NETS GAMENIGHT: #Nets @ #Rockets Bounce Back Game

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Updated: January 26, 2013

GAMENIGHT

 Brooklyn Nets (26-17) @ Houston Rockets (23-22)

Toyota Center 8:00

TV: YES – RADIO: WFAN 660 AM/101.9 FM

The Brooklyn Nets are coming off a disheartening loss to the Memphis Grizzlies last night 101-77 and are glad they have a game tonight to get that taste out of their mouth quickly.  The defense and lack of defensive rebounding cost the Nets big in the last game and they never recovered.

[quote_box]”They just came out and played better than us,” guard Deron Williams said. “They played tougher than us. They outrebounded us and out-toughed us. This is a game where we didn’t come out and play the way we were supposed to play.”[/quote_box]

The Houston Rockets are going through a down time in the season as they have lost 7 out of their last 9 games after starting 21-14.  They are coming off a win in New Orleans last night and may be a bit tired from the travel but they still have James Harden. Harden has led the Rockets in scoring 24 straight games and doesn’t look to be slowing down.  The Rockets hit 11 of 21 from 3-point range in Friday’s 100-82 victory at New Orleans and got back to the way they won earlier in the year.

The Nets must stop the Rockets long range shooters to have a shot to go 3-and-1 on this current four game road trip.  Chandler Parsons and Carlos Delfino can score in bunches so if the Nets don’t match the Rockets intensity to start the game it could be another big loss to a western conference team.

Matchup of the Game: Joe Johnson vs James Harden

Joe Johnson has had success against the Rockets in his career with Atlanta, scoring 21.6 points per game the last eight times he’s faced them.  Harden is a scoring machine with the Rockets and likes to penetrate and draw fouls while creating havoc on the interior.  Johnson will have to be ready to match Harden’s intensity tonight and bring much more than he did against the Grizzlies if the Nets are going to slow him down and get a win.

STAT FOR TONIGHT: The Rockets have won 14 of the past 15 meetings with the Nets, including 11 in a row. .

DEFENSE: Brooklyn has held 27 of their first 42 opponents under 100 points in regulation and is 22-5 in those games. The Nets are 15-1 when holding an opponent under 90 points this season and 4-0 when an opponent fails to hit 80.

Nets:

Tyshawn Taylor and Tornike Shengelia (D-League assignment).

Rockets:

Royce White  (Suspended) is OUT

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